SPONSORED LINKS

My Explorer intermittently at idle will rev up to around 2k RPMs before the trans clicks into first

Tiny
MBULLION
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER
  • 117,000 MILES
Here is the lowdown: I bought the car, had a trans flush done on it from the dealer. Mechanic said old fluid was BLACK. About three days later, I had the slippage problem at idle. Would only happen every now and then, not EVERY time I stop. Took it to a trans shop, said my trans is fine because it shifts perfectly, he said your torque converter is going bad so I had it replaced for 500 bucks. Got the car back yesterday and it is still doing the same thing every now and then. Could it be that the car is just getting used to a new TC and new fluid or do you suspect the dreaded trans overhaul? Keep in mind, this is only at idle or very very low speeds. Thoughts?
SPONSORED LINKS
Friday, May 4th, 2012 AT 7:34 PM

32 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Sounds like it needs overhauling-have it pressure tested-Do you have a check engine light?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, May 4th, 2012 AT 8:04 PM
Tiny
MBULLION
  • MEMBER
  • 46 POSTS
Could it be low fluid? Not filled correctly? No engine light. No o/d light flashing. It just frustrates me cause it only does it SOMETIMES and the trans shifts perfectly. I know when they replaced the TC. They hooked the computer up to check all the diagnostics of it running and they said it was good to go.
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, May 4th, 2012 AT 8:16 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Bring it back where you had the transmission TC replaced and have them further check it-
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, May 4th, 2012 AT 8:22 PM
Tiny
MBULLION
  • MEMBER
  • 46 POSTS
Will do. Thank you for your help!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, May 4th, 2012 AT 8:27 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Dis agree withe the repair for the issue. It sounds more like low pressure from the pump or a bad front clutch seals. Torque converters will not neutral a trans. If it did, it would completely fail and it would go nowhere.

You will most likely need an overhaul.

Roy
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, May 5th, 2012 AT 12:45 AM
Tiny
MBULLION
  • MEMBER
  • 46 POSTS
I forgot to add that BEFORE the TC was done but after the flush. The dealer reported some trans pump whine along with TC rattle if that helps
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, May 5th, 2012 AT 12:53 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Confirms the front pump as I said. No matter, it will have to come out.

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, May 5th, 2012 AT 1:10 AM
Tiny
MBULLION
  • MEMBER
  • 46 POSTS
In your opinion, how long roughly do I have? Could it just go out on me anytime? Or since it's only doing it at idle, does it give me some time to save up some money to overhaul it?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, May 5th, 2012 AT 1:12 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
It will not last long at all. I would do something soon before it totally fails.

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, May 5th, 2012 AT 1:14 AM
Tiny
MBULLION
  • MEMBER
  • 46 POSTS
So, in essence, I basically screwed everything up by having the trans flushed because even though it was black fluid, there was no slippage at all at idle?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, May 5th, 2012 AT 1:33 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
It would have failed anyway. Not your fault, it was lack of servicing on the previous owner.

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, May 5th, 2012 AT 1:37 AM
Tiny
MBULLION
  • MEMBER
  • 46 POSTS
I know you said ASAP as far as getting it overhauled. Probably within the next week or so? Cause I need to put in time off from work to take out a loan and get it to a shop. Thank you very much for your help! Crappy I have to foot the bill for someone else's neglect
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, May 5th, 2012 AT 1:55 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
It is the chances you take when you buy a used car.

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, May 5th, 2012 AT 1:56 AM
Tiny
MBULLION
  • MEMBER
  • 46 POSTS
Ok. So I got the trans rebuilt.1800 dollars total. Everything's working fine. Except one minor thing. When I put the car in reverse. My instrument cluster goes out. All the gauges shut off and what not but the engine still runs. Once I put it in park, drive, or any other gear, it lights back up. Thoughts?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 AT 11:13 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Sounds like a connection somewhere. Have the shop re check there work as they may have left a ground wire loose.

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 AT 11:16 PM
Tiny
MBULLION
  • MEMBER
  • 46 POSTS
Yeah.I figured electrical. The trans is a 5r55w. He said there was a rubber piece in there that under normal conditions is supposed to be rather loose and flexible. And he said it was rock solid and something about the forward clutch being bad. Ill take it back tomorrow. Hopefully its not a long drawn out process electrically to fix it
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 AT 11:20 PM
Tiny
MBULLION
  • MEMBER
  • 46 POSTS
So, went to drive the car this morning.O/d light starts flashing. Rpms go up to 4 before SLAMMING into 3rd gear. Also when on the highway. If I step on it rpms go back and forth between 5 and 6. Have it in the shop now. Thinks there may be a servo issue? Keep in mind this is AFTER it was rebuilt. Sigh
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, May 10th, 2012 AT 7:56 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Yep, sounds like a broken servo spring. Lets hope they get it fixed.

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, May 10th, 2012 AT 9:17 PM
Tiny
MBULLION
  • MEMBER
  • 46 POSTS
Is that something that requires the tranny to be removed and all. He said he may be able to access it on the side of the trans. Haven't heard from him yet. He's had it 3 hours so far
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, May 10th, 2012 AT 9:25 PM
Tiny
MBULLION
  • MEMBER
  • 46 POSTS
Nevermind! Just called. Said it was the servo! It's ready to go!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, May 10th, 2012 AT 9:26 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Transmission Click Content

VIEW MORE

Sponsored links